Fun Things to Do with Your Kids this Summer

10 Fun Things You Can Do With Your Children this Summer that Won't Break the Bank

For a family with small children like my own, a big family vacation in the summer isn't always an option. But just because your summer entertainment budget is small doesn't mean you and your kids can't have lots of fun this summer.

Here are ten ideas to get you started on lots of fun this summer ? on a budget.

1) Water + Kids = Lots of Fun

Put everyone in bathing suits and turn on the sprinklers. Fill the plastic pool that's been lying around the garage all year. Get some inexpensive water guns at the dollar store and fill up some water balloons. Believe me, your kids won't need any further instructions. Just keep plenty of towels around to dry off afterwards.

2) Your Child on Paper

Get a large sheet of packing paper, or use some leftover wallpaper. Any big sheet of paper will do. Ask your child to lay on his or her back on the paper and use a pen or pencil to draw the outline around him or her. Let your child paint features, clothes etc. When the paint dries, cut the shape out and hang this life-size picture of your child up.

3) Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk

Use the recipe found at http://www.kinderinfo.com/crafts/sidewalk-chalk.htm to make your own sidewalk chalk. Use it to let the kids turn the driveway into a piece of art, or and use it to play hopscotch.

4) Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Do you have a baseball team in town? It doesn't have to be a major league team. In fact tickets will be a lot cheaper if it isn't. Take the kids out to a minor league game or even watch your high school team play.

5) Backyard Camping Trip

Don't have time to take the kids on a camping trip this year? Just camp out in the backyard or even in your living room. Your kids will enjoy it just as much as going out into the woods, and it will give you a great chance to spend some quality time with your kids uninterrupted by TV, video games etc. For more tips on how to turn this into a fun event, read Backyard Camping Trip at http://www.kinderinfo.com/articles/backyard-camping-trip.htm

6) Take the Kids to Work

Have your kids been curious what Mom or Dad do all day at work? Take them with you for a day or even just a few hours before they have to go back to school. Of course you may want to check with your employer first. If he doesn't like the idea of having a child hang out in the office all day, ask if it would be ok for someone to bring your child in for an hour or two. Get your child involved while he or she is visiting with you. Ask him or her to help you with some of your everyday tasks.

7) Game Night / Movie Night

Dig out some of the board games that have been sitting in the closet for ages and play games for a few hours. You can even share some games that you enjoyed playing as a child.

Movie Night is another great way for the entire family to spend the evening together. Rent a family movie, make some popcorn and have everyone watch the movie together.

8) Lemonade Stand

Encourage your children to open a lemonade stand. They'll be busy all day making posters, and lemonade of course, setting up the table and selling the lemonade. This is also a great time to work in some math practice by working with them to figure out the cost of each glass of lemonade and how much they need to sell it for to make a profit.

9) Treasure Hunt

You can keep the kids busy for hours with a fun treasure hunt. The idea is to create a series of clues that the kids will have to follow to get to a little prize in the end. You can draw the item where the next clue is hidden on a note card, or give them a written clue. For example, "The next clue is hidden under a chair in the house". Put another clue under one of the chairs saying that the next clue can be found hanging in a tree in the yard. This can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like.

10) End of Summer Party

Invite the kids your child has been playing with all summer for an End of Summer Party. You may want to have their parents over as well, to give you a chance to get to know each other. This doesn't have to be fancy, just ask everyone to come over and grill some hotdogs in the backyard.

For more Summer Fun Ideas for Kids, join the Kinderinfo Newsletter at http://www.kinderinfo.com/newsletter and we'll also send you our ebook "Summer Fun", which is full of even more great ideas to have a good time this summer.

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Google News Updated : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:08:13 GMT VMware Ousts CEO Diane Greene - BusinessWeek Boston Globe VMware Ousts CEO Diane Greene BusinessWeek - 1 hour ago by Aaron Ricadela VMware ended a long-running battle over its strategic direction on July 8, ousting co-founder and CEO Diane Greene and installing Microsoft veteran Paul Maritz in her place. EMC Replaces the Chief and Co-Founder of VMware, Silencing Talk of ... New York Times VMware CEO abruptly replaced SiliconValley.com Wall Street Journal - Forbes - MarketWatch - San Francisco Chronicle all 361 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:13:27 GMT Cheney's staff censored EPA, ex-official alleges - Boston Globe Washington Post Cheney's staff censored EPA, ex-official alleges Boston Globe - 1 hour ago WASHINGTON - Members of Vice President Dick Cheney's staff censored congressional testimony by a top federal official on the health threats posed by global warming, a former official of the Environmental Protection Agency said yesterday. Cheney’s Office Said to Edit Draft Testimony on Warming New York Times White House in climate change "cover up" Reuters San Francisco Chronicle - USA Today - ABC News - Wall Street Journal all 564 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:36:02 GMT Cheesesteaks, troops withdrawals and cigarettes that kill Iranians… - FOXNews Cheesesteaks, troops withdrawals and cigarettes that kill Iranians… FOXNews - 4 hours ago by Mosheh Oinounou PITTSBURGH, PA - Sen. McCain, joined by his wife Cindy, made a previously unannounced visit to the Primanti Brothers Restaurant and Bar, a famous Pittsburgh-area sandwich shop, Tuesday evening for a retail stop-turned media ... Caution: Can Iran cigarette jokes be dangerous to McCain's ... Los Angeles Times McCain jokes about killing Iranians with cigarettes Reuters The Associated Press - Washington Post - ABC News - Tribune Review all 156 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:11:13 GMT Iran test fires long and medium range missiles - Reuters Malaysia Star Iran test fires long and medium range missiles Reuters - 1 hour ago By Fredrik Dahl TEHRAN, July 9 (Reuters) - Iran has test fired nine long- and medium-range missiles, including one which it has previously said could reach Israel and US bases in the region, state media reported on Wednesday. Iran Test-Fires Missile Capable of Reaching Israel (Update1) Bloomberg Iran test-fires Shahab-3 long-range missile RIA Novosti BBC News - Monsters and Critics.com - International Herald Tribune - Jerusalem Post all 347 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:02:53 GMT Reiser deal ultimately hinges on judge's OK - San Francisco Chronicle Washington Post Reiser deal ultimately hinges on judge's OK San Francisco Chronicle - 44 minutes ago (07-08) 17:14 PDT OAKLAND -- The defense can ask for a deal in a murder case like Hans Reiser's, and the prosecution can sign off on it, but it's the judge who has the final say. Reiser takes plea deal for lesser sentence San Jose Mercury News My interview with murderer Hans Reiser Salon San Diego Union Tribune - SiliconValley.com - The Associated Press - CNET News all 654 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:23:31 GMT Hunger for victory defines Obama - Financial Times BBC News Hunger for victory defines Obama Financial Times - 2 hours ago By Edward Luce in Washington When Democrats criticise John McCain, they first praise his honourable military record. When Republicans do the same to Barack Obama, many begin by conceding that he is an “attractive and talented candidate”. Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress McCain, Obama Trade Early Fire in TV Ads FOXNews ABC News - KVBC - The Associated Press - Newsweek all 2,342 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:54:07 GMT McCain, Obama court Latino group - Los Angeles Times Voice of America McCain, Obama court Latino group Los Angeles Times - 2 hours ago Sen. John McCain addresses the League of United Latino American Citizens in Washington, DC. today. McCain plans to tell the Latino advocacy group that the nation must secure its borders "while respecting the dignity and rights of citizens and legal ... Candidates talk up Latino connections Boston Globe Candidates woo Hispanic group USA Today New York Daily News - Houston Chronicle - San Francisco Chronicle - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel all 500 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:56:13 GMT Rss Feed Reader More Web Site Traffic

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